LeBron & Fan Behavior

LeBron James just doesn’t get it when it comes to fan behavior.

LeBron James is dead wrong and I am afraid no one – the Cavaliers’ front office, the league or his agents - have the guts to tell him so.

I am referring to the recent incident in New York where a fan came out of the stands and reached James on the floor at Madison Square Garden after he (James) went off for 50 points in a win over the Knicks.

James seemed to be friendly toward the 17-year old fan and later told reporters he didn’t mind the incident – saying he was not afraid since he was “6-9/250 pounds.”

The mega-star made matters even worse when it was later reported the fan in question would be James' guest at an upcoming game. Soon after that leaked out, James’ people refuted the rumor, but the damage was already done.

Why didn’t James have the common sense to make the following statement after the incident?

“I appreciate their support, but fans have absolutely no right to come out of the stands and onto the floor. That type of action potentially puts others at risk.”

Perhaps no one in the Cavaliers’ organization had the guts to tell “The King” what to say.

Why didn’t the league ask James to make such a statement the following day?

Perhaps the commissioner’s office did not have the guts to tell “The Chosen One” what to say either.

The same can be said of the numerous adults who represent the 23-year old.

LeBron James is the most high profile player the NBA has going and that will likely remain so for years to come. To date, he has said and done all the right things – with the exception of his 100+ mph speeding ticket and wearing of Yankee garb at an Indians’ home playoff game. The speeding put him at physical risk and the Gotham hat did little more than upset the local fan base for a time.

But this incident has ramifications beyond just idol worship gone wrong.

Just as players have no business going into the stands, fans have no right coming out of the stands for numerous reasons – the most importance of which is the athletes’ safety. By almost befriending this individual, James is sending out the absolute wrong message.

If James hasn’t been asked to do so or won’t do it, the league should step in and make a public statement re-emphasizing this fact.

Secondly, the Knicks should ban this individual from Madison Squarer Garden for life and he should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Madison Square Garden should also do a thorough investigation of its security measures and make sure this never happens again. Ditto for the rest of the NBA's playing venues.

I have stated over and over again that fans have no business on the field of play. That’s a catastrophe waiting to happen – whether it is at the college level following a major upset or at the professional level when a fan decides to make the playing field his living room.

What would be the reaction today in the sports world if that individual's intentions were to do harm James and he was able to carry out those actions?

Fortunately in the U.S., our sports fans are relatively sane - especially when compared to the supporters of the world's #1 sport - soccer. But let's make sure we, in the States, get this one right nonetheless.

LeBron James got it wrong, and because he is who he is, has not been excoriated for it. That is bad enough.

But what’s worse, the grown ups who run the sport and know better have not stepped in and cleaned up the mess.

That’s inexcusable.